Fort Collins, CO – In celebration of 150 years of fraternity and sorority life, the University of Iowa’s Fraternity & Sorority Community has committed to the creation of the AFLV Legacy Fund with a generous initial donation of $7,500 and subsequent donations in 2018 and 2019.

The Legacy Fund will provide financial support for AFLV conference-wide educational programming for fraternity and sorority students, and for any fraternity and sorority student in the country to attend any AFLV programming.

Members of fraternity and sorority life shared the following on why the AFLV Legacy Fund, founded by the University of Iowa Fraternity & Sorority Community, is so important to them and why they challenge other communities to participate in donating to the fund.

PHC VP for Finance and Operations: Mallory Smith, Alpha Phi

“Our advisor [Helen Lahrman] thought of the idea and brought it to the councils, and we saw a space there to help other campuses. We saw the value of strengthening our council through AFLV and wanted to give other campuses the same experience. This would encourage Greek life across the country by encouraging more students to attend.

We are hoping to allow other schools to see the value they gained in AFLV, and also to help councils who may not be able to attend the opportunity to go to AFLV to gain experience and bonding.”

MGC President: Tiffanie Duong, Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.

“The Fraternity and Sorority Life community at the University of Iowa has continually benefited from the amazing programs put on by AFLV each year. We wanted to give back and provide the same opportunity to other schools to experience AFLV as well. AFLV provided so many opportunities for me to grow personally and as a leader in general. I walked away from AFLV with tremendous insight of myself and of my community, allowing me to lead my council with confidence and purpose.

By challenging other schools, I hope they find the same value in the programs provided by AFLV and take the knowledge they gained back to their campus to strengthen their fraternal communities.”

IFC VP for Finance and Operations: Matthew Bentley, Kappa Sigma

“After learning about how insightful and fun AFLV was, my advisor started bouncing ideas around about how to help AFLV. We thought fraternity/sorority life as a whole benefitted a lot from this event, so we wanted to give back and help other campuses.

AFLV, to me, means gathering a group of mismatched people and helping them grow strong as a cohesive unit. It lets peers enjoy each other’s company while learning how to become a solid leader.

By challenging other schools to donate, we are creating a group norm for inclusiveness, philanthropy, and many more positive ideals. Which will eventually help AFLV grow as a whole, and allow campuses that have never been able to attend to finally participate in AFLV conferences.”

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The Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values (AFLV) exists to stimulate the growth and development of fraternity/sorority councils, chapters, and members by promoting leadership, educational, and values based experiences and resources for student leaders, their advisors, and the larger fraternal market.

The University of Iowa Fraternity and Sorority Community started in 1866 when the first fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, was established on campus. Almost 15 years later, the first women's chapter, Kappa Kappa Gamma, received their charter at Iowa. From the beginning, both fraternities and sororities recognized the value that brotherhood and sisterhood could bring to the college experience. One hundred and forty-nine years later, the community has over 3,600 students who are members of one of 53 fraternities and sororities. This includes 23 Interfraternity Council chapters, 7 National Pan-Hellenic Council chapters, 8 Multicultural Greek Council chapters, and 15 Panhellenic Council chapters.